§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley on 18 December, Official Report, column 621, concerning emergency arrangements at nuclear power stations, what is the statutory requirement for emergency arrangements to be rehearsed regularly; what is the typical number of inspectors present during the annual exercise at each location; whether any full-scale exercises have been undertaken in recent years other than those witnessed by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; whether he has any plans to review the content or frequency of exercises of emergency arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Goodlad[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1987, c. 261]: The operators of licensed nuclear power stations are required as a condition of their site licences to rehearse their emergency arrangements to such extent as the Health and Safety Executive may direct. There are normally four inspectors present at an annual emergency exercise at each station. The operators hold additional exercises each year without the involvement of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate. The extent and frequency of emergency exercises are kept under review. Arrangements for United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority nuclear power station sites are similar.
§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his replies to the hon. Member for Rother Valley on 27 November 1986, Official Report, column 302, and 18 December 1986, Official Report, column 621, concerning duly authorised persons and exercises of emergency arrangements at nuclear power stations, what proportion of duly authorised persons at a typical station is associated with each separate shift; what arrangements are made for newly appointed duly authorised persons to participate in annual exercises witnessed by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate in the first year of appointment; with what frequency a duly authorised person participates in such annual exercises; what proportion of annual exercise scenarios include rehearsal of off-site measures to protect the public; with what frequency each manager or deputy manager participates in exercises of off-site measures to protect the public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Goodlad[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1987, c. 262]: Site licences require training of all persons with duties to perform in the event of an emergency. Such persons, who will include duly authorised persons, are present on each shift. Typically one sixth of duly authorised persons are present on a shift. All persons having specified duties in an emergency participate in a training exercise in their first year and regularly thereafter, generally about once a year. As explained in my earlier answer, nuclear installations inspectorate witness different shifts in the annual exercise and not all persons on the shift can participate. Broadly those with special duties can expect to participate in an exercise witnessed by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate about once every five years.
121WFor each site an emergency controller, normally the site manager or one of his nominated deputies, takes charge of an annual exercise which involves communication with the police and other local authorities who bear responsibility for offsite action to protect the public.
Arrangements for UKAEA nuclear power station sites are similar.